HONOLULU — At its monthly meeting held today at the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa, the Board of Regents (BOR) approved the establishment of a new Bachelor of Education (BEd) degree in elementary education at the University of Hawaiʻi — West Oʻahu.

The new BEd program, effective in Fall 2007, is designed to address the ongoing state need for new teachers by providing an additional pathway by which to meet the academic and professional standards for becoming a licensed elementary school teacher in Hawaiʻi.

Traditionally, teacher education programs were designed for full time undergraduate students who are able to attend classes during the day. However, this new program will serve both students who enroll on campus as freshmen as well as transfer students or other non-traditional students that wish to become full licensed teachers.

In other action, the BOR approved giving authority to the UH Mānoa chancellor to increase rental rates for student housing to a ceiling of 5 percent annually starting in academic year of Fall 2007 through Spring 2012.

"Enhancing the quality of our student life is a high priority and we need more resources to finance long-overdue repairs and maintenance projects in the dormitories," says Chancellor Denise Eby Konan. "We will hold public hearings before any housing fee increases are implemented so that we have the benefit of students‘ views on this important issue."

The Board also approved the appointment of Kathleen Cutshaw to be UH Mānoa Vice Chancellor for Administration, Finance and Operations. The appointment is effective immediately through January 11, 2010.

Cutshaw, who has held the position on an interim basis since January 2005, has more than 30 years of leadership and management expertise in higher education administration. She previously served as the Director of Administrative services for the UH Mānoa School of Ocean Sciences and Technology for seven years.